With summer around the corner and people relaxing on social distancing guidelines, swimming will certainly be back as a popular activity for exercise, recreation, and enjoyment. However, as the fifth most popular form of exercise and an excellent way to improve cardiovascular health, there are some dental health risks that can occur for both casual swimmers and competitive athletes. Pool chlorination can negatively affect our mouths, and having daily exposure to chlorinated water can increase the risks of stains, pain, and even tooth erosion.
Risks To Oral Health From Swimming
If you love swimming, we absolutely encourage it as an excellent way to maintain your health. However, pools that aren’t managed in their chlorine amounts can cause some significant dental problems later on, including:
- Tooth Stains: Many pools contain antimicrobials which are chemical additives that break down saliva proteins, resulting in more stains.
- Dental Pain: Barometric stress caused by diving underwater at specific depths can increase the risk of dental pain, also called barodontalgia.
- Plaque Buildup: Bacteria can quickly build up in the mouth when exposed to chlorine water, causing irritation to the gums and make plaque accumulate quicker.
- Dental Erosion: Over time, the bacteria, destruction of saliva proteins, and stressors placed on teeth can cause the enamel to wear down.
What You Can Do This Summer For Your Teeth
Studies looking into these occurrences often find that the prevalence of dental erosion and other issues is widespread among regular swimmers and that older swimmers become more vulnerable to these conditions over time.
So, when it comes to keeping your teeth clean and safe, the best way to do that this summer is to make sure you brush and floss your teeth, use mouth rinses after swimming, and ensure the pH levels of your pool is balanced.
